Mail-package tie.



J. W. NORMAN.

MAIL PACKAGE TIE," APPLICATION FILED Aue.1o, 1912.

Patented June 20, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET. 1.'

J. W. NORMAN.

MAIL PACKAGE TIE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1912.

Bgtented June 20, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'llIB COLUMBIA PurjouRAPi-x cm. WASHINGTON, D c

JAMES WESLEY NORMAN, OF ROME, GEORGIA.

MAIL-PACKAGE TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1916.

Application filed August 10, 1912. Serial No. 714,368.

2 '0 all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JAMES W. NORMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rome, in the county of Floyd and State of Georgia, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in Mail-Package Ties, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in package ties, and the like; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believe to be my preferred embodiments from among other formations and arrangements within the spirit and scope of my invention.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1, is a perspective View of a structure embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3, are sectional views thereof. Fig. 4, is a perspective of another form embodying the invention. Fig. 5, is a detail sectional View thereof. Fig. 6, is a view illustrating another form of my invention.

In the form of Fig.1, a body, backing plate or frame is employed consisting of an elongated or longitudinal plate portion 1, integral with a pair of alined lateral plate arms 2, extending in opposite directions from the opposite edges of the center of portion 1. The backing plate thus formed is composed ofv light comparatively thin sheet metal. I find that sheet aluminum is well adapted for the purpose. 7

The upper or front side of the backing plate (composed of'cross portions 1, 2) is preferably plane and flat to form a. stiff backing for a pile or bundle of letters or mail matter, manuscripts, documents or the like. On the rear side of the longitudinal 0r elongated portion 1, of the plate, I fix a tubular spring housing 3, arranged longitudinally thereof and riveted, soldered or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. f On the rear side of one of the portions 2, of the plate, I also provide a longitudinal tubular spring housing 4, rigidly fixed thereto.

Within the housing 3,- I loosely arrange a normally longitudinally retracted coil spring 5, and secure the rear end of this spring at 6, in the rear end of the housing.

Within the housing 4, I loosely arrange a normally-longitudinally retracted coil spring :7, and at its rear end this spring is secured in the rear end of said housing at 8. The front end9, of the portion 1, of the backing plate is bent back at right angles against the front end of the housing 3, and is provided with a perforation alined with the bore of the housing. At the exterior of the bent end 9, I arrange a bearing or antifriction roll 10, having its axis carried by brackets 11, fixed to the plate end 9. This roll is arranged approximately to one side of the perforation through said end and ad- .jacent to the angle between the end 9, and

body of the plate. 7

An elongated free-end'flexible tie, such as gchain 12, is atone end fixed to the free end of the coil spring 5, within the housing 3.

This chain extends over the roll 10, and through the perforation in end 9, and longi-- tudinally and loosely into said housing to the free end of said spring. The end 13, of the backing plate, opposite the end 9, is bent outwardly or backwardly and is formed with a central edge notch 14 to receive the chain 12, as hereinafter described, thereby providing a catch or keeper for the free end of said chain. 'The backing plate is also shown bent up, at 15, against the outer end of housing 4, and provided with 'a perforation and also with an anti-friction roll 16, and a flexible tie, such as chain 17, extends over said roll and through saidperforation and longitudinally into housing l, and at .its inner end is coupled to the free end of the spring 7 within said housing. The edge portion of the backing plate opposite said bent end 15, is bent back, see 18 and formed with edge notch 19, to receive the free end of spring 17 and form a catch or keeper therefor.

The bundle or pile of mail matter, or other documents, to be bound or tied together, is placed against the fiat side of the backing plate and held thereto while either chain is passed tightly over the same and caught in the keeper therefor. The other chain can then be passed around the pile of documents, at right angles to the first named chain, and have its free end caught in the keeper or catchiprovidedtherefor. Each chain, preparatory to being passed around the documents, is longitudinally pulled from the housing containing its spring for the purpose of longitudinally distending the spring and thereby placing the chain under the longitudinal tension thereof and While under this tension the spring is passed around the documents and,

caught in the V keeper provided therefor. The chains under the pull or tension of their springs, tightly bind the pile of documents together and to the backing plate. The keepers or catches for the chains, are formed to edgeWise receive the links or narroW portions thereof, and hold the chains tightly drawn around the documents. The longitudinal tension on the chains maintains them in looking engagement with their keep- I The chains can be very easily and quickly drawn out of the housings to distend'the springs, passed around the pile of documents, and caught in the keepers. The chains can also be very quickly and easily disengaged from their keepers, When it is desired to release the documents. When it is necessary to secure a bundle of mail matter made up of short envelops and long or oflicial envelops, the pile of short envelops can be first placed on the backing plate and secured by the longitudinal chain.

The pile of longenvelops can then be placed on the secured short envelops and the chain passed therearound, and can be secured *thereto by the transverse chain, as Will be readily understood from the foregoing.

If so desired, the backing plate or frame might be in the form of an open approximately rectangular frame 21, at its rear side provided With a pair of parallel spaced spring housings 22, containing retractlve coil springs 23, secured therein at their rear ends, as hereinbefore described, and at their free ends coupled to the ends of flexible ties, such as chains 24, to act as hereinbefore described. 7

One edge 25, of the plate 21, can be turned back against the open front ends of the housings 22, and perforated for the passage of the chains, While the opposite edge of the plate 21, can be bent back and provided With notches 26, to form separate keepers or catches for the free ends of said chains, as

' will be readily understood from the foregoing description. In this instance, the chains will be approximately parallel and spaced a distance apart when binding a bundle of documents to the backing plate. If so desired, a backing plate 30, might be em- 7 ployed having a single spring housing 31, fixed to or otherwise formed on the rear thereof and containing a retractive (3011' spring 32, as hereinbefore described, coupled to an elongated free end flexible tie, such as chain 33. One end 34, of this plate can be perforated for the passage of the chain and turned back against the end of the housing, While the other end 35, of the plate can be bent back and notched to form a catch or keeper for the chain.

The package tie of my invention is exceedingly durable in structure and can be readily manufactured out of light metal so as to be comparatively inexpensive and exceedingly light in Weight.

- It is evident that various changes, variations, and modifications might be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as claimed and hence I do not Wish to limit myself to the particular mechanical expressions disclosed hereby.

that I claim is;-

1. A package tie consisting essentially in the combination of a backing plate at one edge portion having a rearwardly projecting keeper and at its opposite edge portion having a rearwardly projecting spring and chain guide, a coiled retraction spring arranged at the rear of the plate between said keeper and guide and at one end secured to the plate, and an elongated tie chain at one end secured to the free end of said spring and forming a direct outward continuation of the spring through and movable freely in said guide, said chain being otherwise disconnected from the plate, said chain adapted to extend from said guide around the package to the rear side of the plate With any link of the free end thereof engaging said .keeper and held locked thereto by the direct longitudinal tension of said spring on said chain, substantially as described.

2. A package tie'consisting of a backing plate having an unobstructed front side to engage the package and a housing at its rear side, said plate having a rearwardly projecting keeper formed by a notched edge opposite one end of said housing and a chain guide at the opposite end of said housing formed by a rearWardly turned perforated edge, a retractile coiled spring arranged in said housing and secured at one end, and 'a tie chain passing freely through said perforation and at its inner end directly se cured to the free end of said spring, the free end of said chain adapted to extend to the rear side of said plate with any link thereof engaging said keeper and. held locked therein by the. direct longitudinal tension of the spring on the chain and plate.

- 3. A chain tie consisting of a backing plate having an unobstructed front side to receive the package, one edge portion of said plate having a rearWardly projecting notched keeper and the opposite edge portion of said plate having a rearwardly projecting lip with a transverse passage therethrough to form a tie chain guide, a coiled retractive spring at one end secured to said plate and having its free end arranged opposite and movable toward and from said passage, and a tie chain at one end secured to the free end of said spring and movable freely through said passage With the chain extending therefrom around the package and having any link of its free end engaging said notch at the rear of the plate and held locked therein by the longitudinal pull of the spring on the plate and chain.

4:. A package tie consisting essentially in the combination of a backing plate having a rearwardly projecting slotted keeper, a

coiled retractive spring arranged at the rear of the plate and at one end secured thereto, means being provided to confine said spring to the plate, and an elongated tie chain at one end directly secured to the free end of said spring and forming a direct outward continuation thereof, said chain adapted to extend around the package to the rear side of the plate With any link of the free end thereof engaging said keeper and held locked thereto by the direct longitudinal tension of said spring on said chain, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES WESLEY NORMAN. Witnesses:

W. J. WELLS, T. J. WELLOUS.

Copies at this patent may be obtained for he cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. O." 

